Jujutsu Kaisen: Every way how Yuji can be related to Sukuna, explained

Every Jujutsu Kaisen fan knows about Yuji and Sukuna’s unique relationship. Contained within the main protagonist's body, yet unable to have full control, the King of Curses should have been able to destroy Yuji’s soul. Yet, for some reason, he hasn’t. There are many theories as to why this has happened, but a key one is the idea that Yuji is directly related to Sukuna in some way.

Itadori Yuji’s own origins are very murky, with his only known family being his grandfather, Itadori Wasuke, who passed away shortly in the first episode of Jujutsu Kaisen. So, does Sukuna's relationship with Yuji go beyond inhabiting the same body?

Disclaimer: This article will contain spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.

Is Yuji related to sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen?

1) A familial relationship

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Due to the mystery surrounding Yuji’s bloodline, he may be a direct descendant of the Ryomen clan, from whom Sukuna hails. After all, one of the few things his grandfather attempted to do before his death was pass on knowledge of Yuji’s parentage. He never did manage to do it, leaving it a mystery, something to be later revealed.

If Yuji has the blood of the Ryomen within him, this would also explain his more superhuman abilities. Even before he began housing Sukuna’s soul, he had powers far beyond human expectations. This would line up with the concept of heavenly restriction. Yuji, who had no cursed energy, may have been blessed with his superhuman skills through the blood of Ryomen.

2) Yuji, part curse, part human

The villainous Mahito before a few of these Cursed Womb Paintings. (Image via Studio MAPPA)

One of the darker parts of Jujutsu Kaisen’s story is the nine Cursed Womb Death Paintings, born through a woman who was half-curse and half-human. This resulted in 9 special-grade curses that lack a drive of their own but make excellent vessels to be inhabited. Could Yuji be one of these curses?

This would again explain his lack of parents and the enigmatic circumstances behind Yuji’s enhanced abilities. If he was born superhuman and attuned to curse energy, this could be how Sukuna did not immediately kill Yuji, who is supposedly a ‘normal person.’ This doesn’t directly tie Sukuna to Yuji, but it does tie them in other distinct ways—through their shared existence as curses.

3) A reincarnation of Sukuna

Sukuna's true form may not look much like Yuji, but it has the vibes. (Image via Gege Akutami)

Within Yuji’s mind, Sukuna materializes in a very specific way—in a form very similar to Yuji’s own. This is distinct from his appearance when he is possessing Yuji’s body, implying this may be a more truthful representation of Sukuna’s form.

Of course, Sukuna’s true form doesn't look too much like Yuji, with four arms, four eyes, and a hulking physique. But he definitely could've looked like Yuji in his youth, given his bright red hair and a vaguely similar appearance. If an artist makes a comparison like this, it's usually not just a coincidence but meant to draw an obvious parallel or connection.

With all these similarities in mind, Yuji may be, in some way, a reincarnation of Sukuna. Not an exact one, but one similar to him in both appearance and soul. This is why he can resist Sukuna, because Yuji is, on some level, also Sukuna.

Concluding thoughts

Jury is still out on Yuji's relation to the King of Curses. (Image via Studio MAPPA)

With the current events of the manga, Sukuna looms as a bigger threat to Yuji and friends yet, and with such a presence, something is bound to be revealed.

While it's impossible to tell for certain now, Yuji’s origins will likely at some point be an important revelation in Jujutsu Kaisen. Will he be Sukuna’s inheritor or reincarnation? A half-curse-born vessel of darkness? Or is Yuji simply Yuji, with no further elaboration needed? Time will tell, and it may just be a shocking reveal that will forever twist the story of Jujutsu Kaisen.

UPDATE: With the release of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 257, it has been officially confirmed that Yuji is related to Sukuna. At the start of the chapter, Sukuna mentions that he ate his twin in the womb, and his soul finally found a vessel which Kenjaku found at the right time. This would mean Jin Itadori, Yuji's father, held Sukuna's twin's soul. This would make Sukuna Yuji's uncle, in a way.

It is unclear whether Kenjaku knew this fact or it was pure coincidence, but these conditions made Yuji a perfect vessel for Sukuna. Uraume also wonders if Yuji holds a latent potential to rival the King of Curses. He has hit a total of 8 black flashes, the highest in JJK, and can use the Cursed Techniques Blood Manipulation and Shrine.

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